Coupling for differential-gear rings



W. M. BRITTON COUPLING FOR DIFFERENTIAL GEAR RINGS Dec. 14 1926.

Filed NOV. 10, 1923 ing pinion which is actuated by Dec. 14, 1926.

WILLIAM M. BEITTOIT, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

COUPLING FOB, DIFFERENTIAL-GEAR RINGS.

Application filed November 10, 1923. serial No. 673.997.

ihis invention relates to gear ring couplings for the differential gearing of motor vehicles and analogous uses in which two rotative elements are adapted to be secured together end to end for simultaneous rotation.

thence through the axle sections to the traction wheels resulting frequently in loosening or shearing of the bolts unless extra precaution is taken by some other means to relieve the shearing strains.

ll am aware that certain devices such as interlocking peripheral teeth on the gear ring and frame have heretofore been proposed, for relieving these strains, but the formation. of these peripheral teeth and grooves sutlicientlv accurate to prevent relative rotary movement of those parts is found to be ext .niely difficult and laborious particularly when formed before hardening of the gear ring; which almost invariably produces more or less deformation or warping of the Figures 2 and 8 are ring.

The main object of my present invention is to produce a more efficient and economic means for coupling the gear ring to the frame for resisting these shearing strains upon the bolts by inserting hardened steel studs in registering o ienings in the ring and frame between the bolts which are usually arranged in equally spaced relation around no axis of the ring and frame.

Another object is to provide means clamped in place by the bolts for holding the studs in operative position against accidental endwise displacement.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the coupling will be brought out in the following description,

In the drawings Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a o difie gllhlill gearsupporting frame and gear ring mounted thereon together with the coupling means forming the subject matter of my present invention and also showing the driving pinion for the gear rlng.

l transverse sectional views taken respectively, in the planes of lines 2-2 and -3, Figure l, which latter is taken in the plane of line 11, Figure 2.

in order that my invention may be clearly understood, 1 have shown it as applied to a difierential gear frame composed of sections -'l and 2-, and secured coaxially end to end for receiving and supporting internal 7 differential gears -3- and pinions 4l-, the gears -3- being coaxial in opposed relation, while the pinions are journaled upon suitable studs --5- forming part of a spider 6- and having their outer ends seated in suitable openings in the adjacent faces of the members 1- and 2 as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3,

The gears -3-- are splined in any. well known manner upon the adjacent ends of relatively rotatable shaft sections not shown,

but adapted to carry the traction wheels of the vehicles.

The outer end ofonc of the frame sections as 1-, is provided with an annular recess 6- for receiving and supporting a gear ring -7 which, together with the sections -1-- and -2 are provided with registering bolt openings in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially for receiving a corresponding number of clamping bolts -8-.

These clamping bolts extend entirely through the sections -1 and 2 and gear ring ---7 and serve the double purpose of clamping the sections to each other and also of clamping the gear ring to the outer end face of the section 1- The heads as 8-, of the bolts are usually square or angular in cross section, while the adjacent end of the section -2 is provided with recesses for receiving said heads and also for forming shoulders as 9- adapted to be engaged by one of the flat sides of the bolts to hold said bolts against turning while being tightened by means of the nuts as -10'- on the opposite ends thereof.

The portions of the gear ring 7-- and frame section -1- midway between the bolts and preferably in the same circle are provided respectively with registering openings -l1- and -l2- for receiving a corresponding number of hardened steel studs 13-, the openings 12- preferably consisting of sockets extending only part way through the frame section --1-- so as not to interfere in any way with the supporting studs 5- for the pinions -4.

The studs -13 are made to fit snugly 1n went and for this their respective openings -l1- and 12- and of just sufiicientlength when seated against the inner ends of the sockets to cause their outer ends to be substantially flush with the corresponding outer face of the gear ring 7-.

Suitable means is provided for holding the studs -13 against endivise displacepurpose is provided a retainer ring l lhaving apertures registering vwith the bolt openings for receiving said bolts vhereby when the bolts are tightened, their respective nuts l0 will serve to firmly hold the retainer ring in place or in fixed relation to the gear ring and sections 1- and 2 of the frame.

The portions of the stud-retaining ring i l between the bolts -8 are imperio rate and extend across the outer end faces of the studs 13- so that when the bolts --8 are firmly tightened their respective nuts -1(-- the ring -14 will be firmly held in place While the ring will serve to hold the studs against outward endwise displacement.

The teeth of the gear ring -T-- and adjacent portions of said ring are usually hardened to resist excessive Wear by contact With 'the teeth of the driving pinion as -ih, but the remaining portions of the gear ring and adjacent portions of the frame sections -1- and 2 are usually unhardened which permits the holes for receiving the bolts S- and studs l3 to be initially formed slightly under size and subsequentlyreamed to just the desired size for easily receiving the boits and studs, and inasmuch as the bolts are not necessarily hardened, it is advisable to use hardened steel studs -l3 closely fitting in the registering openings which receive them so as to take the shearing strains from the bolts While the retaining ring 1 i serves to hold the studs in place against endwise displacement but may be readily removed at any time by removing the nuts -l() and retainer ring lel which permits the removal of the gear ring 7.

I claim l. A coupling for differential gears co1nprising co-axial rotary members bolted together end to end at spaced interval and provided with registering openings, studs inserted in the registering openings and a stud-retaining ring secured in fixed relation to said members and extending across the outer ends of the studs.

52. A coupling comprising coaxial rotar members bolted together end to en spaced intervals and provided t ring openings studs inse" ed tering openings, and a stud-retaining secured in lined relation to said member the bolts and extending across the outer ot the studs.

3. It coupli'ig l'jol' connecting a gear ring and the dili'erent-ial gear-supporting iraine coi'i'iprising bolts securing the gear ring to the frame at intervals about the axi oi the ring, studs inserted in the registering openings in the-ring and frame, and means secured in place by the bolts for holding the studs against endivise displacement from said openings.

In Witness whereoi my hand this Tlh day i have hereunto set 01' hovember, 1923. 

